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Arctostaphylos glauca - Lindl.

Common Name Bigberry Manzanita
Family Ericaceae
USDA hardiness 7-10
Known Hazards None known
Habitats Dry slopes below 1500 metres[71].
Range South-western N. America - S. California.
Edibility Rating    (2 of 5)
Other Uses    (3 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (2 of 5)
Care (info)
Frost Hardy Well drained soil Moist Soil Semi-shade Full sun
Arctostaphylos glauca Bigberry Manzanita


http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Stan_Shebs
Arctostaphylos glauca Bigberry Manzanita
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Stan_Shebs

 

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Summary


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of shrub
Arctostaphylos glauca is an evergreen Shrub growing to 4 m (13ft 1in).
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 8. It is in leaf all year, in flower from April to May. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Bees. The plant is self-fertile.
Suitable for: light (sandy) and medium (loamy) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid soils and can grow in very acid soils.
It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers dry or moist soil.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Plant Habitats

Woodland Garden Sunny Edge;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Fruit
Edible Uses: Drink

Fruit - raw or cooked[3]. The fruit is used fresh or it can be dried and ground into a powder then used to make mush or added to soups etc[105, 161, 183, 257]. It can also be used to make preserves or a beverage that resembles cider in flavour[183]. A drink is made from the berries by sprinkling them with water, kneading them with the hands, mashing them and then soaking them in the sun for about 12 hours. The liquid is then sieved to remove the pulp before being drunk on its own or with Chia (see Salvia columbiana). Water could be drained through the pulp a second time. The liquid was said to be sweet and fattening[257]. The fruit is dry and with little flavour[2]. The seeds can be dried, ground into a powder and used to make a mush or cakes[257]. The seed is rather small, it would most probably have been used together with the fruit and not have been separated from it[K].

References   More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
Antiseptic  Astringent  Diuretic  Skin  Urinary

The dried leaves are used in the treatment of a variety of complaints[4]. These leaves should be harvested in early autumn, only green leaves being selected, and then dried in gentle heat[4]. A tea made from the dried leaves is strongly astringent, diuretic and an antiseptic for the urinary tract[4, 222]. It is much used for kidney and bladder complaints and inflammation of the urinary tract, but it should be used with caution[4, 21, 46, 172] because it contains arbutin which hydrolyzes into the toxic urinary antiseptic hydroquinone[222]. Externally, an infusion is used to treat poison oak rash[257].

References   More on Medicinal Uses

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Other Uses

Broom  Dye  Fuel  Wood

A yellowish-brown dye is obtained from the leaves, it does not require a mordant[168]. The branches have been used to make a broom[257]. The wood makes a good fuel, producing a lot of heat and burning for a long time[257]. The wood is hard and tough. It is used for making small tools, awl handles etc[257].

Special Uses

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Requires a deep moist well-drained light or medium lime-free loam in sun or semi-shade[3, 11, 200] but plants produces less fruit when they are grown in the shade[200]. Prefers a warm sunny position[3, 166]. Found on dry soils in the wild, one report says that it succeeds in a hot dry position. Hardy to between -5 and -10°c, succeeding outdoors in the milder parts of Britain[200]. Plants resent root disturbance and should be placed in their final positions as soon as possible[134].

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

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Plant Propagation

Seed - best sown in a greenhouse as soon as it is ripe. Pre-soak dried seed in boiling water for 10 - 20 seconds or burn some straw on top of them and then stratify at 2 - 5°c for 2 months[11, 200]. The seed usually germinates in 2 - 3 months at 15°c[134]. When large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in a greenhouse or cold frame for at least their first winter, Plant out in late spring or early summer. Cuttings of side shoots of the current season's growth, 5 - 8cm with a heel, August to December in a frame. Takes one year[1, 78]. Division in early spring. Take care because the plant resents root disturbance. Pot the divisions up and keep them in a lightly shaded position in a cold frame or greenhouse until they are growing away actively. Layering in spring[200].

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Native Range

NORTHERN AMERICA: United States (California), Mexico (Baja California (Norte))

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :

Related Plants
Latin NameCommon NameHabitHeightHardinessGrowthSoilShadeMoistureEdibleMedicinalOther
Arctostaphylos alpinaAlpine BearberryShrub0.1 -  LMSNM21 
Arctostaphylos columbianaHairy ManzanitaShrub1.5 6-9  LMSNM212
Arctostaphylos manzanitaManzanita, Whiteleaf manzanita, Konocti manzanita, Contra Costa manzanita, Roof's manzanita, WieslanShrub2.0 7-10  LMSNDM313
Arctostaphylos nevadensisPine-Mat ManzanitaShrub0.1 5-9 MLMSNM213
Arctostaphylos parryanaParry ManzanitaShrub1.8 -  LMSNDM101
Arctostaphylos patulaGreenleaf ManzanitaShrub2.0 5-9  LMSNM311
Arctostaphylos pungensPointleaf ManzanitaShrub0.0 -  LMSNDM112
Arctostaphylos stanfordianaStanford's manzanita, Rincon manzanitaShrub1.5 5-9  LMSNDM301
Arctostaphylos tomentosaDowny Manzanita, Woollyleaf manzanita, Brittleleaf manzanita, Dacite manzanita, Rosy manzanita, SanShrub1.5 7-10  LMSNM333
Arctostaphylos uva-ursiBearberryShrub0.1 4-8 MLMFSNM344
Vaccinium arctostaphylosCaucasian WhortleberryShrub3.0 5-9  LMSNM300

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

 

Expert comment

Author

Lindl.

Botanical References

1171200

Links / References

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Readers comment

Karen Edwards   Sat Feb 28 2009

Manzanita---I remember visiting my aunt in the foothills near Sonora CA. and cutting branches from the Manzanita bushes to sell to my local pet shop in Sacramento. I was 13yrs old at the time and marveled that I could get these branches while out playing and sell them back home! The shop used them for bird perches and for tree crabs to climb on. I'm glad to hear that it has other uses as well. This website is invaluable. Thank you for creating it.

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